Michael Jecks - The Outlaws of Ennor

This reflection was unsettling, and the pain in his belly increased. It was always the same. Whenever he had a matter to decide, it would affect his digestion. To distract himself from the pain he studied the man before him.

‘I am Prior Cryspyn,’ he said. ‘I understand that you are a shipwreck. Is this true?’

‘I believe so,’ Baldwin said. ‘I cannot remember what happened. I know that my ship was attacked by pirates, but I thought we survived that.’

‘Your ship broke up?’

‘I assume so, Prior, but I can remember little about it,’ Baldwin said reluctantly. There was an edge of eagerness to the Prior’s voice which he found unsettling.

Cryspyn was wondering where the bulk of the vessel might have fallen. Although Ranulph disputed every claim, and now that he was also the Coroner on the island, he made it more and more difficult for the priory, but Cryspyn knew that the rights to the wreck were his. All the parts of any ship which broke up at sea were to be collected and sold to the benefit of the priory. Usually it was too difficult to rescue bits and pieces before the peasants ‘liberated’ them all, but perhaps this time the priory could get there first. Sadly, if a ship didn’t break up, he had no rights; if someone saved a sinking ship, they were entitled to half its value under the new law of salvage, but surely this was a ship ruined by the storm. Any new injection of money would be welcome, of course, but Cryspyn hoped he didn’t sound too greedy, for that might make him appear ghoulish, grateful for the deaths of this man’s friends.

‘How do you come to be here?’ Cryspyn asked.

Baldwin shrugged apologetically. ‘I do not know,’ he said simply. ‘I hope I shall remember before long.’

‘Very well. Where were you travelling when you were blown upon our shore?’

‘I was returning from pilgrimage to Compostela,’ Baldwin said. There was a catch in his throat when he next spoke. ‘My friend Simon … I assume no others have been washed up on your shores?’

‘I do not know of any, no.’ Cryspyn shrugged.

‘Prior, I do not understand your tone. I do not wish to be an unwelcome guest, and I should be glad to know why you seem so unhappy to find me here on your island.’

Cryspyn glanced at Tedia and Isok. ‘It is simple. We know of pirates here. Raiders have attacked our priory many times before, and I have no doubt that they will do so again.’

‘You think me a pirate?’ Baldwin said disbelievingly. The man was a fool.

‘I think many people could be pirates,’ Cryspyn said, and was pleased to see Isok stiffen. ‘Some attack us here, others attack ships at sea. You say you were boarded by pirates, and I suppose that should be enough for me, but it is difficult to accept a man’s word on such a matter. Pirates are never far from these islands. A hundred years ago the Prior ordered the deaths of a hundred and twenty foul sea-raiders. I should be surprised if some among my flock here were not guilty of the same crimes. And I should be glad to command the same penalty as my predecessor!’

Baldwin gave a dry smile. ‘Were our positions reversed, Prior, I suppose I could even find it in my heart to suspect you. Yet I swear that I am no pirate, and if there are any monks here who know of Abbot Robert of Tavistock, I may be able to give some credentials. I know the good Abbot quite well. My friend, Simon, who I fear has been drowned …’ Merely saying those words made a lump rise in his throat and his eyes watered. He had to swallow and wipe them before he could continue. ‘Simon was the Bailiff of Lydford, one of Abbot Robert’s men. I can give you assurances that I know your Abbot and convince you I am no pirate.’

‘That is good,’ Cryspyn said, and questioned Baldwin on a few matters which he knew only a man who had eaten at Abbot Robert’s table could know, such as the Abbot’s tastes in hunting and in his board.

Baldwin answered as fully as he could, then asked whether he could sit down. He still felt terribly weak. Isok and Tedia remained standing.

‘My apologies, Sir Baldwin. You will understand that here, in so remote a situation, we must be cautious,’ Cryspyn said.

Baldwin nodded. ‘I can readily understand it,’ he said. ‘I feel the need for caution myself.’ He slapped his left thigh where his sword should have hung. The sadness of losing Simon was still heavy upon his soul, but so was the feeling of danger at being unarmed in a strange country. It felt like being undressed. ‘I have the most curious sense that I have come here clad in the garb of a beggar, Prior,’ he told Cryspyn. ‘It is peculiar, but the mere fact that I have lost my sword makes me feel like a man without britches.’

Cryspyn smiled. ‘If you wish for another, I am sure that I could find you one somewhere on the island,’ he said, adding with a burst of honesty, ‘although whether you would want such a weapon is another matter. They tend to rust quickly here, and swords are used like any other tool, for most of the year, for hedging and chopping wood.’

‘I think I can live without that, but perhaps if my …’ Baldwin had been about to say ‘beautiful rescuer’, but omitted the adjective when he caught sight of Isok at her side. ‘If my rescuer could guide me, I could return to the place where she discovered me, and seek it there. Surely it would not have strayed far from me?’

Cryspyn pulled a face. ‘There is no telling where the seas might deposit a man or his belongings. It is entirely in God’s hands. You may find that your sword fell from you at the same moment you lost your ship and comrades. It is likely to be at the bottom of the sea.’

‘I believe you could likely be correct,’ Baldwin said doubtfully. He was thinking of his sword-belt. It seemed odd to him that it should have untied itself in the water. It was perfectly understandable that the sword itself could have fallen from the scabbard, but it niggled at him, the fact that a perfectly good belt had become untied. It was a point to consider later. ‘Yet the thing has sentimental value to me. I would like to confirm for myself that it is not there. I do not suppose that it was removed from me when I was found?’

Tedia found that he had turned in his seat and was subjecting her to a steady scrutiny. She reddened, and shook her head with the stirrings of anger. ‘What would I want with a sword! You accuse me of stealing it?’

‘No, my saviour, I do not. I merely wondered … it was heavy, and so someone could have untied my belt and let it fall rather than carry it and me. The belt was strong, so I would be surprised if it could have been ripped from me without leaving me bruised about the hips. It’s easier by far to believe that someone removed it.’

Cryspyn stood. ‘I am sure Tedia will be happy to take you to the beach where she found you. In the meantime, I have many other problems to deal with. After such a storm, I have to see to the repairs to the priory, but also to the chapels. I am sure you will excuse me.’

Thomas had expected to hear from the bailiff before long, but this was much faster than he had expected.

‘Please be seated,’ he said suavely. ‘How may I serve you?’

Simon entered the little room panting slightly. The gate-keeper had pointed him away from the castle’s keep and down here to a separate chamber in the northern wall. A brazier kept it warm, for it was set in the shadow of the keep and in all but the warmest summer day, the thick walls would be cool. Behind Thomas hung the large tapestry, while the other walls were bare. One contained a small wooden door covering a hole in the mortar and stone, a private locking cabinet for valuables. The door was open, and inside Simon could see a number of rolls of parchment.